FINE ANTIQUE CLOCKS.
Tel.(01732)358986. Fax.(01732)771842.
To Contact us click here.
FINE ANTIQUE CLOCKS.
Tel.(01732)358986. Fax.(01732)771842.
To Contact us click
here.
|
31395C.L An exceptional early walnut longcase clock. The case with a round top with strong mouldings has an arched door with plain brass capped pillars. The trunk door has an arched top conforming to the shape of the dial with finely figured walnut veneers and a wheatear border. The panelled base standing on a double footed plinth again has a nicely figured panel to the front and strong mouldings leading into the base and to the plinth foot. The dial and movement of the clock are quite exceptional. The arched dial has a revolving round moon, one side silvered the other side blue, set within a large silvered dial showing the age of the moon in days and further inscribed for new moon, first quarter, full moon, last quarter. The moon revolves against a painted background of blue sky and stars. To the side of this moonphase at 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock on the main dial respectively there are two subsidiary dials, one for rise and fall regulation for the pendulum and the other for strike/silent. Both the centres of these dial rings and also the centre of the main dial are well matted. There is an applied silver seconds ring below 12 o’clock and an oval shaped signature cartouche in the middle of the dial below the hands just above the date aperture which is at 6 o’clock. The clock has nicely cast gilded spandrels and two rather unusual rosettes to the left and right hand corners of the square part of the dial. The movement of the clock is most unusual and of superb quality. It has ‘Y’ shaped plates with 7 pillars. The main part of the train is set out within the main body of the plates in fairly standard fashion and the extended ‘Y’ parts of the plates are used for the rise and fall regulation and the strike/silent work. The moon work is housed in a beautifully made brass case fixed to the back of the dial with a contrate wheel being used to drive it from the main movement. The pillars themselves are beautifully shaped and the quality of the steel work and wheel work is of the finest. Both the quality of the movement and of the dial show clearly Webster’s skill and also the training he had as one of Tompion’s apprentices. |
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William Webster, an eminent maker, is noted as a member of the Clockmakers’ Company from 1710 to his death in 1735. He was apprenticed to and a Journeyman with Thomas Tompion and after Tompion’s death on the 20th November 1713 the following passage was put into the London Gazette of November 24th to the 28th, ‘On the 20th instant Mr Tompion, noted for making all sorts of the best clocks and watches, departed this life. This is to certify all persons of whatever quality or distinction that William Webster at The Dial and Three Crowns in Exchange Alley, London served his apprenticeship and served as a Journeyman a considerable time with the said Mr Tompion and by his industry and care is fully acquainted with his secrets in the said art.’
William Webster went on from here to become a very highly regarded maker in his own right. He was Warden of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1734 and he died in office during 1735.
Height: 7' 3" (221 cms.)
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